Fair Trade | UAHT

12 Holiday Gifts To Fight Human Trafficking

by Misa Nguyen | Dec 18, 2020 | Fair Trade

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! This last-minute gift idea list will make your holiday shopping a breeze.

Between the gems of local Houston small businesses and the brands carried by our favorite chain stores, ethical products are very attainable for the average consumer.

Local Businesses

One of my personal favorite spots to shop responsibly is at the 11th Street Market hosted by A 2nd Cup, Houston’s non-profit coffee shop working to end human trafficking.

This monthly market is a great opportunity to visit and meet the owners of ethically sourced small businesses and browse the large array of products offered at their booths.

While perusing various brands, I found a diverse list of gift ideas for every member of the family!

1. Au Naturals

For the environmentally conscious lovers of beauty, Au Naturals Body Care offers locally made products with unique recipes made from organic ingredients.

Gift Set: $55

2. Benschop + Beck

Benschop + Beck offers custom pieces to decorate your loved one’s home, and the one of a kind works of art are as unique as they are.

3. Divercity

You can show off your Houston pride with the eco-friendly brand Diverscity Clothing. The value of celebrating our city’s diversity is a core aspect of this local company.

Backpack: $50

For fun accessories of all styles, Gold Clover Company has so much to choose from! Not only are you giving back to local businesses, but also the community with $1 from each purchase donated to The Bee Community.

Necklace: $54

5. Redemption Song Foundation

Redemption Song Foundation features handmade baskets, jewelry, and more to support growing healthy communities and sustainable practices in Uganda.

Green Lidded Basket: $10

6. Refuge For Women Gulf Coast

Check out these survivor-made gifts at Refuge for Women Gulf Coast! For those who don’t favor material gifts, consider sponsoring a room, which allows women survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation to receive safe housing, counseling, and life and works skill development.

Large Warmer Winter Bundle: $40

To view even more local businesses’ products and stories, visit the 11^th Street Market webpage or visit in-store at A 2nd Cup.

Fair Trade Finds At Target

Target and Whole Foods are good places to find ethically sourced and responsibly manufactured products too.

7. Goodweave

Target partners with Goodweave to create opportunities for childhood education, fair working conditions, and sustainable practices in the textile industry.

8. Green Toys

Another Target partner, Green Toys, is the perfect brand to find recycled toys for children manufactured in the USA while guaranteeing fair labor and a responsible supply chain.

Rocket: $25

9. W3LL People

Ethical makeup and cosmetics can be a struggle to find, but W3LL PEOPLE provides natural, non-toxic, and cruelty-free beauty products at your local Target.

Environmentally friendly and sustainable ingredients paired with ethical labor practices by hand-making their products in the USA is a win-win for any consumer.

Lipstick: $15

10. Meow Meow Tweet

The bath and body products from Meow Meow Tweet in Target stores share the same mission with only organic and fair-trade ingredients while handmaking every product in the USA. An added bonus, the packaging contains no plastic and reduces environmental waste.

Candle & Soap Duo: $35

11. Threshold

Target also carries Threshold linens, towels, and certified bedding that are both organic and Oeko-Tex Certified to protect textile workers from commercial pesticides and toxic chemicals.

Blanket: $30

12. Equal Exchange

Equal Exchange can be found in multiple retailers, including Target! Their coffee and chocolate are fair-trade certified, which means they ensure ethical labor and sustainable practices in their supply chains.

Equal Exchange also supports small scale farmers in developing areas to foster growth in their communities and quality of life, so these treats are the perfect way for your loved one to indulge while giving back!

Solidarity Box: $50

Fair Trade At Whole Foods & Wal-Mart

Whole Foods

Whole Foods is the go-to spot for ethically sourced food and other products. Showing your love through treats and dishes made from responsibly sourced ingredients is a breeze with the quality standards, be certified or supported by an approved third-party verifier, come from a supplier with a transparent relationship to Whole Foods, and have a measurable and positive impact on workers in their supply chains, communities and the environment.

Even their flowers follow these fair trade specifications, so spice up your gifts with some naturally beautiful flourishes.

Wal-Mart

Walmart sports a new fashion brand, Free Assembly, with eco-conscious clothing items at affordable prices for everyone in the family!

Happy Shopping!

Whether you need clothes, accessories, art pieces, or sweet treats to put together for the fast approaching holidays, these brands offer everything you need and more! Our favorite stores are making it easier than ever to be an environmentally conscious and ethically sourced consumer with so many l products to choose from. Happy shopping!

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How to Change the World with Fair Trade Subscription Boxes

by Jenny Macahon | Oct 26, 2020 | Fair Trade, Uncategorized

As October comes to an end, spooky season gives way to the holidays. I don’t know about you, but my family is already asking for my holiday wish list!

What better way to show someone you care with a thoughtful and unique gift?

Buying fair trade certified items not only make your loved ones feel special, but also support ethical brands and their families.

Shopping in the age of a pandemic is difficult enough for consumers. Small businesses and their workers are suffering due to corporate consolidation and supply chain disruption. Many have curated unique subscription boxes as a safe alternative way to accessing ethically made and fair trade certified goods.

Green up

GreenUP Box is a great way to introduce your family to zero waste and plastic free products into their everyday life. This brand is perfect for the environmentally conscious!

Browse GreenUp Boxes

CAUSEBOX

To promote artisans and socially-conscious emerging brands, CAUSEBOX is an easy way to personalize each delivery especially for the recipient. They offer a little of everything, so you can’t go wrong with these diverse ethical products.

Browse CauseBox

Equal Exchange Solidarity box

Finally, Equal Exchange has formed the Solidarity Box. Long term partnerships with farmers gives more opportunities to their families and business. They have curated their best-selling products to allow consumers to help take a stand and promote fair trade.

Check Out the Solidarity Box

Purchasing fair trade certified products helps support farmers and small businesses and gives back to their communities. I challenge you to find a fair trade item for yourself or to gift someone this holiday season! Happy shopping!

We have to know the signs of labor trafficking and exploitation, and we need to be engaged as consumers if we truly want to create a world where all are free. Here’s how you can keep learning:

Learn more now, during fair trade month!

In celebration of Fair Trade Month, UAHT is hosting events to encourage viewers to ask questions and learn more about fair trade.

We will be airing a viewing of the documentary “The Dark Side of Chocolate” on Thursday, October 29th from 6-7:30 PM CST.

This documentary and discussion will feature a guest speaker to answer questions about what fair trade is and how consumers can get more involved in the movement.

We will also be releasing new episodes of Making Justice, including an episode with Equal Exchange.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to learn more information and hear about the impact that fair trade has on others!

RSVP for the Free Event: "The Dark Side of Chocolate"

Browse Summer Items That Are Fair TRade

Shop Fair Trade Gifts for Her

Early Holiday Shopping? Browse These Fair Trade Gifts

How To Change The World With Fair Trade Chocolate

by Kelsey McKown | Oct 5, 2020 | News Room

Change is in the air and the season for sweet treats everywhere! And what better time to indulge in a universally beloved candy – chocolate.

Buying Fair Trade Chocolate can prevent child and forced labor

The most popular candies in the U.S., and even around the world, are chocolate. Many of us buy and consume chocolate, but how many of us know how and where it comes from?

Chocolate is largely made up of cacao beans, which is primarily grown in the tropical climates of Western Africa, Asia, and Latin America (World Cocoa Foundation).

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 60% of the world’s cocoa is produced in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana alone, but an estimated 2 million children were found in hazardous working conditions in these two countries.

Purchasing fair trade chocolate can prevent child and forced labor while supporting ethical producers of these products.

Now is the perfect time to order Fair Trade Chocolate products

Consumers have the power to decide what they want from the market with every purchase, so taking a stand and buying fair trade products is a great way to encourage manufacturers to get their fair trade certifications.

With Halloween decorating our stores and homes, now is the perfect time to order fair trade chocolate products!

The Good Trade features 10 Fair Trade companies perfect for a variety of chocolate lovers! Whether you want darker than dark chocolate or sweet truffles, each brand has something special to offer their consumers.

And for those who want to buy in bulk for trick or treaters or just to indulge your sweet tooth year-round, Equal Exchange Chocolate carries products ranging from hot cocoa and baking mix to chocolate bars and mini treats.

Purchasing products certified as fair trade supports the ethical treatment of farmers and workers to ensure safe working conditions and fair wages. Spread the message with every confection you gift!

Learn more now, during fair trade month!

In celebration of Fair Trade Month, UAHT is hosting events to encourage viewers to ask questions and learn more about fair trade.

We will be airing a viewing of the documentary “The Dark Side of Chocolate” on Thursday, October 29th from 6-7:30 PM CST.

This documentary and discussion will feature a guest speaker to answer questions about what fair trade is and how consumers can get more involved in the movement.

We will also be releasing new episodes of Making Justice, including an episode with Equal Exchange.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to learn more information and hear about the impact that fair trade has on others!

Register for the Free Event: "The Dark Side of Chocolate"

We have to know the signs of labor trafficking and exploitation, and we need to be engaged as consumers if we truly want to create a world where all are free. Here’s how you can keep learning:

Browse Summer Items That Are Fair TRade

Shop Fair Trade Gifts for Her

Early Holiday Shopping? Browse These Fair Trade Gifts

7 Holiday Gifts that Fight Human Trafficking

by Jenny Macahon | Dec 10, 2019 | News Room

“What can I do to help fight human trafficking?”

It’s the most common question we hear from you, our motivated community.

Every day, you can disrupt the cycle of abuse. You can change lives through gift giving. You don’t need to work at a non-profit or receive special training. Shopping for friends, family, and even a treat for yourself, ensures that survivors stay free and abuse ends.

How is shopping a solution?

Buying gifts from brands that pay fair wages, hire survivors, and invest in their community, keeps people free. You ensure that a farm worker can provide for her family and that a sex trafficking victim can stay away from his captor.

Imagine a creative and skilled survivor just learned that someone purchased a necklace made by her hands. A smile lights up her face as she remembers she is loved and capable because you choose to buy her craft – rather than her body.

Each purchase is an encouragement to press on into pursing a fair and free future. We’ve made it easy for you to fight human trafficking through gift giving. Look at our fun list below. There is something for everyone!

for the chocolate lover

1. Raspberry Chocolate Bar by Xocolla – $9

Guilt free chocolate is a favorite for everyone. This decadent chocolate made in Sugar Land, Texas is not only fair trade, but delicious! This handcrafted chocolate is sure to be loved by your kids, spouse, or friend.

If you’re not feeling adventurous with the raspberry flavor, they keep stocked with the standards – milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate. They even have a KETO chocolate bar for your health-conscious friends and other fruit flavors to try!

for the fashionista

2. Egyptian Fan Headwrap by The Sparrow Studio – $14

The fashionistas in your life know that bold headwraps are an essential accessory for this season. The Sparrow Studio has this ideal Egyptian Fan Headwrap for just $14 dollars. You don’t have to choose between inexpensive or ethically sourced. A cooperative of 27 talented, creative women in Kigali, Rwanda handmake these accessories. These hard working are women are creating a business that fuels hope in their community.

These headwraps make a perfect stocking stuffer! Check out all the colorful patterns. Smaller sizes are available for young kids.

for him

3. Men’s Shave Bag by Hilltop of Hope – $20

Treat the man in your life to this classy shave bag. Why? This purchase provides a sustainable source of income for survivors! Hilltop of Hope by Sugar Creek Baptist Church is dedicated to restoring victims of human trafficking in the red light districts of South Asia. All of the profit allows them to escape their captors and rebuild their lives.

for the kids

4. Child’s Knit Bear Hat by Community Cloth – $20

This fun hat is crafted by refugee women in Houston. Ending exploitation also means supporting the people traffickers target. The Community Cloth provides training and peer support for displaced women. This expands market opportunities for refuges as they create homes in an unfamiliar country. Warm your little one with these sweet, cozy hats. This is just one of the many kinds of clothing, home goods, and accessories that these hardworking women create.

for the techie

5. Computer Sleeve by Hilltop of Hope – $35

We all know techies care about details. These computer sleeves have a top zipper computer compartment with extra padding on back. The front zipper compartment has three net pockets for cords and accessories. Coming in all kinds of colors, patterns, and sizes, there’s a perfect one for the technical person you want to treat. The women at Hilltop of Hope are not only survivors of sex trafficking, they are advocates returning to the red-light district to give hope to other victims.

for the party host

6. Candle Club Subscription by Elijah Rising – $25 Monthly

It seems like everywhere you turn, there is a subscription box coming out. Food, clothes, books, and accessories are just a few examples. But what about a subscription that serves survivors of human trafficking here in Houston? Every month you’ll receive a beautiful candle, each one made by a trafficking survivor in our city. If you know someone who lights a candle for every occasion, this is the gift for them.

Elijah Rising provides long-term care for adult survivors of sex trafficking. They teach candle-making and business skills to survivors. These survivors are building a sustainable career and a bright future.

for her

7. Brass Layered Necklace by Branded Collective – $48

Heirlooms are valuable because they tell the story of someone that is meaningful. This beautiful necklace is not only made by a trafficking survivor in the U.S., but it has the maker’s initials inscribed on it. When you receive the necklace, you can visit the website and read that survivor’s story. The best part? You can even send an encouraging message to the survivor who made your jewelry!

Skip the shipping lag time by visiting A 2nd Cup in the Heights! Grab a cup of fair trade coffee and peruse their store; you’ll find many of these brands there!

You can feel good about these gifts, knowing that they prevent abuse and support survivors.

From all of our team, have a wonderful and restful holiday season!

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3 Fair Trade Halloween Candy That Are Affordable

by Jenny Macahon | Oct 23, 2019 | News Room

Halloween is just around the corner! As you stock up on candy for Trick or Treaters, consider offering fair trade treats!

We know that finding fair trade halloween candy can be challenging, and when you do find ethically-sourced treats, they can be quite expensive! So we made it easy and did the research for you. Here are 3 affordable candy options that don’t use slave labor:

1. Skull & Ghost Lollipops

by Wholesome

These perfectly themed lollipops are just $12.99 for 30 suckers!

“Based on the simple idea that the products we buy and sell are connected to the livelihoods of others, fair trade is a way to make a conscious choice for a better world.” – Fair Trade Certified